Colorado dentist accused of poisoning wife’s protein shakes sought to kill detective, police say

New charges filed against a Colorado dentist accused of fatally poisoning his wife’s protein shakes focus on his alleged efforts to kill a detective involved in the case, authorities said.

A spokesman for the Aurora Police Department confirmed the accuracy of a report from NBC affiliate KUSA of Denver about the solicitation to commit first-degree murder charge filed last week against James Craig, 46.

Craig was previously arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the March 18, 2023, death of his wife of 23 years, Angela Craig, 43. He has pleaded not guilty to that charge.

Citing a professional conflict, Craig’s lawyer withdrew from the case just before prosecutors filed the solicitation charge last week. It wasn’t immediately clear if Craig has a new attorney to speak on his behalf about the new charges, which also include solicitation to commit perjury. 

According to records obtained by KUSA, Craig was in jail twice with the man he allegedly sought to have murder the detective, once in May and June 2023 and again last month. The inmate has not been accused of any crimes in connection with the Craig case, the station reported.

Citing multiple sources familiar with the investigation, the station reported that the detective who was the target of the alleged plot worked on the investigation into Angela Craig’s death.

The police spokesman declined to provide additional details to NBC News about the allegations.

Authorities previously accused James Craig of dosing his wife’s drink with cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, a medication found in eye drops. She first became sick in early March 2023 and was admitted to a hospital on March 15 with a severe headache and dizziness. Angela Craig later died after experiencing a severe seizure, authorities said in James Craig’s arrest warrant.

Investigators initially believed her death was a result of poisoning by arsenic and cyanide, according to the arrest warrant. But the county coroner later attributed it to a combination of cyanide and tetrahydrozoline.

Authorities have pointed to Craig’s internet search history, which showed he sought information on whether arsenic was detectable in an autopsy. They also pointed to his online purchases: Weeks before his wife’s death, Craig ordered potassium cyanide from Amazon and had it delivered to his dental practice, the warrant shows. 

When James Craig’s business partner learned of the purchase, he flagged it as suspicious to a nurse at the facility where Angela Craig was hospitalized. There was no medical reason to buy cyanide for a dental practice, he told the nurse, according to the warrant. 

The nurse, a mandatory reporter, then contacted authorities.

When the business partner confronted James Craig about it, he initially denied buying the cyanide but later said his wife asked him to order it, according to the warrant.

At a court hearing last year, Craig’s defense lawyer said there was no direct evidence showing his client poisoned his wife’s drink.

That lawyer withdrew last week on the day jury selection was supposed to begin in Craig’s trial. The lawyer partly attributed his withdrawal to a belief that his client “persists in a course of action involving the lawyer’s services that the lawyer reasonably believes is criminal or fraudulent,” KUSA reported.

Jury selection has been indefinitely postponed, the station reported.